BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism and Publishing

Clearing places availableThis course has places available for 2017/18 entry. If you are interested in applying for this course, please call us on +44 (0)20 7514 7514. For a full list of UAL courses open for 2017/18 entry, visit the UAL Clearing page.

BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism and Publishing is a unique course that combines the practical and technical skills of journalism, editing and production with a contextual understanding of the business of publishing.

About this course

This wide-ranging course explores media studies, journalism, law, production and business management and will give you the creative, analytical and transferable skills necessary to succeed in an increasingly dynamic, evolving media world.

Students go on to enjoy successful careers in editorial, production, marketing and sales positions across the world of media publishing.

Open Days

Open Days for 2018 and 2019 entry, will be held in Autumn 2017. Dates to be confirmed shortly.

Content

London College of Communication has a rich history of teaching magazine publishing and journalism; it boasts distinguished alumni that have gone on to successful careers in the industry.

Based in central London, LCC benefits from invaluable links with a number of major media organisations and publishers. Guest lectures, conferences and master classes also give students access to a range of high profile industry speakers.

What can you expect?

There are two main strands to the course: Editorial and Publishing.

The first strand, Editorial, is practice based and focuses on the creation of magazine content and the curation of its narratives. You will learn the editorial and production skills necessary to plan, commission and produce both print and digital magazines. You will do this by working on College publications and by having the opportunity to generate your own original publishing projects.

In the second strand, Publishing, you will analyse markets and readerships. You'll develop strong creative media management and entrepreneurial skills that are directed to launching magazines or working collaboratively to create a branded media project.

You’ll develop good research, communication and analytical skills that are important to the modern media environment and will have the opportunity to undertake an industry placement to contextualise this learning.

The two strands combine to offer a broad approach to the study of journalism and publishing. These will enable you to develop a toolkit of transferable skills, crucial for practitioners working in the new multi-platform environment.

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Course dates

Autumn term:

Monday 25 September – Friday 8 December 2017

Spring term:

Monday 8 January – Friday 16 March 2018

Summer term:

Monday 16 April – Friday 22 June 2018

Course units

In common with all courses at the University of the Arts London, this course is credit rated. The course is 3 years, levels 4-6. Each year requires you to achieve 120 credit points. To be awarded the BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism and Publishing qualification, you need to accumulate a total of 360 credits.

Year 1

Units summary:

Introduction to Magazine Journalism and Publishing (20 credits)

Editorial 1: Journalism and Branded Content (40 Credits)

Publishing 1: Magazine Culture and Industry (40 Credits)

Editorial 2: Art, Design and Production (20 Credits)

Year 2

Units summary:

Publishing 2: The Business of Magazines (20 Credits)

Editorial 3: Multimedia Content and Production (20 Credits)

Publishing 3: Business Plan (20 Credits)

Industry Placement Portfolio (20 Credits)

Collaborative unit (20 Credits)

Year 3

Units summary:

Major Editorial Project (60 Credits)

Major Publishing Project (60 Credits)

Course structure

The information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example, because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course.

Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year.

In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the course with the course team before making a decision to apply.

Webpage updates

We will update this webpage from time to time with new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, use our online course enquiry form.

Home / EU applicants

Go to 'Apply' from the UCAS home page, where you will be able to register and create a password that gives you unique access as you complete your application form. London College of Communication (LCC) courses are listed under University of the Arts London.

Deferred entry

For Home/EU applicants, the Course Leader will determine whether deferred places are available for the course. If you wish to defer your place, it is advisable to indicate this on your application form and/or discuss this with the admissions team and Course Leader before/after applying at the earliest opportunity. In all cases, deferred places will only be held for one year.

This section includes information on how to apply, course entry requirements, selection criteria, information about interviews and portfolio advice.

Deferred entry

International applicants are normally permitted to defer entry to any programme of study for one year only, after which they will be asked to re-apply.

Entry requirements

Recruitment and admissions

The course team recognise applicants come from a broad spectrum of backgrounds from across the world. The course in the main attracts students who apply direct from A level or other equivalent qualifications but it also welcomes students from Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Media Pathway) and other art courses as well as mature students who may have worked in industry.

Applicants would be expected to demonstrate a confirmed interest in magazines, from their creation and design through to areas of marketing and distribution. Therefore, the personal statement is an important element of the application process.

Due to the wide range of skills and applications needed within this publishing area, applicants would be expected to have good creative skills, and students for whom English is a second language will be required to demonstrate a level of written and spoken English.

The subjects the course team will be looking for in your application are wide ranging and include Arts and Humanities and Social Science subjects.

Entry requirements (Home/International/EU)

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

80 new UCAS tariff points (200 old UCAS tariff points) gained at GCE Advanced (A) Level or equivalent. (A Level subjects studied may include: English; History; Media; Business; Art and Design, or other subjects within Social Sciences). Ideally your A levels will be achieved at Grade C or above.

Or

One subject at A Level achieved at grade C or above PLUS Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3/4).

Alternatively you will be considered if you have achieved a minimum of 80 new UCAS tariff points (200 old UCAS tariff points) from one of the following qualifications:

BTEC Extended Diploma

UAL Extended Diploma in Art and Design

Access to HE Diploma

International Baccalaureate

Equivalent EU or Non-EU qualifications

Additionally you will have achieved passes at grade C or above in at least three GCSE subjects including English.

If English is not your first language you will also need an up to date English qualification – see below.

Alternative entry routes

We also welcome applicants such as mature students who do not have formal qualifications but may have relevant experience. Students applying to this course will be expected to demonstrate a specific interest in this area of study and should have a commitment to engaging with journalism and publishing theory and practice. In such cases students applying on the basis of their previous experience or who wish to enter the course through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes should apply via UCAS and will be guided by the admissions staff on the AP(E)L processes.

Language requirements (International/EU)

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability when you enrol.

IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills.

Student selection criteria - what do we look for?

All applications will be considered by the course team. They will review the following key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course:

Most importantly they will review your personal statement

They will consider your qualifications (or projected results)

They will also review your academic or personal reference

Offers will be made based upon the following selection criteria, which should be demonstrated in your application:

A strong interest in and appreciation of the subject area

An understanding of the need for a critical and analytical approach to the area of study

An approach suited to the demands of the course and the projected career futures

Personal statement advice

Through your personal statement, you should show a strong interest in magazine journalism and publishing. This can be demonstrated through work experience or studying, and in your ambitions for personal development as a student at LCC.

The personal statement is a very important part of your application and should demonstrate to the course team that you are interested in magazine journalism and publishing and that you have thought very carefully about why you want to study on this course.

You should take great care when writing your personal statement to ensure that it is well written, clear and free of any spelling mistakes. It is your biggest chance to impress the team by demonstrating your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it might help you in the future. It is also an opportunity for you to state what you feel you would bring to the course.

Interview advice

Occasionally an applicant will be invited for interview who has either requested to discuss their application with the course leader, or who the course leader feels would benefit from discussing their application prior to final consideration.

If you are invited for interview you can prepare yourself in advance by thinking of questions that you may have for the course leader and also re-familiarising yourself with your personal statement (from which the course leader’s questions may arise). The interview will be relatively informal and normally take place at LCC.

Students are admitted to the course having fulfilled the necessary entry requirements and on the basis of their potential to benefit from the programme and their potential to succeed on the course.

Next steps

Successful applicants will be guided through the rest of our admissions stages and towards enrolment on the course.

Fees and funding

Home / EU fee

£9,250 (2017/18).

Tuition fees for undergraduate degree courses have been set at £9,250 per year for full-time study. This applies from the 2017/18 academic year, subject to changes in the law. Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students, in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Please visit our Undergraduate tuition fees page for more information.

International fee

£17,920 (2017/18).

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.

Accommodation

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Fees & funding calculator

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Career paths

Our graduates are working as researchers and creatives in media planning; as journalists in busy news organisations; in design and production roles in both traditional and new media publishing and in exciting marketing positions, everywhere from major brand publishers through to innovative craft creators.

UAL Jobs and Careers

UAL has a number of services and networks that hold regular workshops and careers fairs developed to help you establish and promote your career in the arts, design, or media. These include:

Careers and Employability are the University's dedicated careers and professional practice service. We help UAL students and graduates embark on their professional futures in the creative industries, find jobs, set up a business, and sell their work. We run events throughout the year on all aspects of the career journey.

Creative Opportunities jobs board helps graduates and students find job and internship opportunities and connect with organisations and companies in the creative sector. We post jobs and paid internships, part-time work, freelance contracts and full-time opportunities.